Granted Patent B2

US 12,196,069 · App. 15/930,291 · Granted Jan 14, 2025

Inventors: Todd W. Benson (Dallas, TX); Teddy Chen (Austin, TX); Joel Wilmes (Spring, TX)

Assignee: MOTIVE DRILLING TECHNOLOGIES, INC.

E21B44/00E21B4/02E21B7/04E21B7/06E21B7/062E21B7/10E21B44/005E21B47/024E21B47/09E21B49/00G05B15/02E21B3/02

Abstract

Claims (44)

1. A drilling system for use with a drilling rig, comprising:

a processor;

a memory coupled to the processor, the memory storing a plurality of instructions for execution by the processor, the plurality of instructions including:

instructions for calculating a plurality of convergence plans from an estimated position of a drill bit outside a defined margin of error of a point along a planned path for a borehole being drilled to a target, wherein each of the plurality of convergence plans defines a solution vector to realign the drill bit with the planned path based on drilling operation information that includes a set of cost parameters;

instructions for determining a build rate associated with each of the plurality of convergence plans;

instructions for determining if a bottom hole assembly (BHA) in the borehole can drill the build rate associated with each of the plurality of convergence plans;

instructions for selecting one of the plurality of convergence plans based at least in part on the set of cost parameters;

instructions for producing a set of control parameters for drilling the selected convergence plan when a determination is made that the BHA can drill the build rate of the selected convergence plan, wherein the processor is configured, upon execution of one of the plurality of instructions, to transmit one or more steering commands to one or more downhole components of a rotary steerable system to actuate the one or more downhole components of the rotary steerable system comprising one or more hydraulic pads, in order to drill the selected convergence plan in accordance with the set of control parameters if the solution vector defined by the selected convergence plan deviates from the planned path below a threshold therefor while still hitting the target; and

instructions for stopping drilling of the borehole and alerting an operator when at least a portion of the selected convergence plan requires a projected build rate that cannot be met by the BHA or the solution vector defined by the selected convergence plan deviates from the planned path above the threshold while still hitting the target.

2. The drilling system of claim 1 , wherein the solution vector defined by the selected convergence plan converges with the planned path at a convergence point defined between a maximum directional change possible and a maximum convergence delay.

3. The drilling system of claim 1 , wherein the projected build rate is calculated based on a geological formation, a condition of the BHA, and a relative position of the BHA to a bend dip of the geological formation, or a combination of two or more of the foregoing.

4. The drilling system of claim 3 , wherein the BHA is calibrated a plurality of times, with each calibration based on a position relative to an immediately preceding survey station.

5. The drilling system of claim 1 , wherein producing the set of control parameters further comprises incorporating calibration data from the BHA.

6. The drilling system of claim 5 , wherein the calibration data includes a relationship between force applied to an activation mechanism of the rotary steerable system and a deviation of the rotary steerable system.

7. The drilling system of claim 1 , wherein the set of cost parameters further comprise costs related to well path tortuosity.

8. The drilling system of claim 1 , wherein the set of cost parameters comprise one or more of: wear on the BHA, risks of wellbore damage, and risks of BHA damage.

9. A method for steering a drill string, comprising:

calculating, by a computer system, a plurality of convergence plans from an estimated position of a drill bit outside a defined margin of error of a point along a planned path for a borehole being drilled to a target, wherein each of the plurality of convergence plans defines a solution vector to realign the drill bit with the planned path based on drilling operation information that includes a set of cost parameters;

determining, by the computer system, a build rate associated with each of the plurality of convergence plans;

determining, by the computer system, if a bottom hole assembly (BHA) in the borehole can drill the build rate associated with each of the plurality of convergence plans;

selecting, by the computer system, one of the plurality of convergence plans based at least in part on the set of cost parameters;

producing, by the computer system, a set of control parameters representing the selected convergence plan when a determination is made that the BHA can drill the build rate of the selected convergence plan;

transmitting, by the computer system, one or more steering commands to one or more components of a rotary steerable system to actuate the one or more components of the rotary steerable system comprising one or more hydraulic pads, in order to drill the selected convergence plan for the borehole in accordance with the set of control parameters if when the solution vector defined by the selected convergence plan deviates from the planned path below a threshold therefor while still hitting the target; and

stopping drilling of the borehole and alerting an operator when at least a portion of the selected convergence plan requires a projected build rate that cannot be met by the BHA er and stopping drilling and alerting an operator when the solution vector defined by the selected convergence plan deviates from the planned path above the threshold while still hitting the target.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the solution vector defined by the selected convergence plan converges with the planned path at a convergence point defined between a maximum directional change possible and a maximum convergence delay.

11. The method of claim 9 , wherein the projected build rate is calculated based on a formation being drilled, a condition of the BHA, and a relative position of the BHA to a bend dip of the formation, or a combination of two or more of the foregoing.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the BHA is calibrated a plurality of times, with each calibration based on a position relative to an immediately preceding survey station.

13. The method of claim 9 , wherein producing the set of control parameters further comprises incorporating calibration data from the BHA.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the calibration data includes a relationship between force applied to an activation mechanism of the rotary steerable system and a deviation of the rotary steerable system.

15. The method of claim 9 , wherein the set of cost parameters further comprise costs related to well path tortuosity.

16. The method of claim 9 , wherein the set of cost parameters comprise one or more of: wear on the BHA, risks of wellbore damage, and risks of BHA damage.

17. A method for drilling, comprising:

when an estimated position of a drill bit is outside a defined margin of error of a point along a planned path for a borehole being drilled to a target:

calculating a plurality of convergence plans, wherein each of the plurality of convergence plans defines a solution vector to realign the drill bit with the planned path based on drilling operation information that includes a set of cost parameters;

determining a build rate associated with each of the plurality of convergence plans;

determining if a bottom hole assembly (BHA) in the borehole can drill the build rate associated with each of the plurality of convergence plans;

selecting one of the plurality of convergence plans based at least in part on the set of cost parameters;

producing a set of control parameters representing the selected convergence plan when a determination is made that the BHA can drill the build rate of the selected convergence plan;

transmitting one or more steering commands to one or more components of a rotary steerable system to actuate the one or more components of the rotary steerable system comprising one or more hydraulic pads, in order to drill the selected convergence plan for the borehole in accordance with the set of control parameters if when the solution vector defined by the selected convergence plan deviates from the planned path below a threshold therefor while still hitting the target;

stopping drilling of the borehole and alerting an operator when at least a portion of the selected convergence plan requires a projected build rate that cannot be met by the BHA and stopping drilling of the borehole and alerting an operator when the solution vector defined by the selected convergence plan deviates from the planned path above the threshold while still hitting the target; and

drilling along the planned path for the borehole in accordance with a drill plan if the estimated position of the drill bit is within or on the defined margin of error of the point along the planned path for the borehole.

18. The method of claim 17 , wherein the solution vector defined by the selected convergence plan converges with the planned path at a convergence point defined between a maximum directional change possible and a maximum convergence delay.

19. The method of claim 17 , wherein producing the set of control parameters further comprises incorporating calibration data from the BHA.

20. The method of claim 19 , wherein the calibration data includes a relationship between force applied to an activation mechanism of the rotary steerable system and a deviation of the rotary steerable system.

Assignments (1)

Continuity (5)

References Cited (400)